In today's excerpt - for American blacks in the decades following the American Revolution, even in the northern states, life was so oppressive that leaders from among them determined to emigrate and establish colonies in foreign countries. One of the first places they considered was Canada. Ultimately, a colony was established in Africa and 13,000 emigrated there:

"In the early decades of the nineteenth century, the role of free African- Americans in the life of the country was an issue that engaged whites and blacks alike. Concerned that free men of color could never achieve equality in the United States, a young free black man named Hezekiel Grice of Baltimore wrote to a number of prominent black leaders proposing a convention where mass emigration to Canada would be discussed. On September 15, 1830, a
ten-day National Negro Convention began in Philadelphia at Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Forty black men from nine states attended, including Mother Bethel Bishop Richard Allen.

"Opposition to the African colonization effort was a primary impetus for the call for a National Negro Convention. The American Colonization Society was formed in 1816 to implement a plan to establish a colony for free blacks in Africa. Dominated by slaveholders, the Colonization Society also included some African-Americans and abolitionists. Ultimately, that group sent 13,000 blacks to establish Liberia [on the west coast of Africa] in 1821. In contrast, the result of the National Negro Convention was a new association, the American Society of Free People of Colour, dedicated to improving the condition of blacks in North America, by purchasing land and by encouraging free blacks to emigrate to a new settlement in Canada. Members of the American Society of Free People of Colour argued that civic freedoms were already available in Canada. Further, its customs, language, climate, and soil were similar to those in America, and land could be purchased cheaply.

"Richard Allen was elected president of the society, calling on free men 'to aid each other by all honorable means, and to plant and support one in that country.' Allen also appealed to 'our colored brethren, and to all philanthropists here and elsewhere, to assist in this benevolent and important work.' Conventions similar to the first national meeting in Philadelphia in 1830 were held through the 1840s in New York and other states, but the movement eventually faded. Although many African-Americans immigrated to Canada, particularly after the Fugitive Slave Act was enacted in 1857, a specific colony in Canada was never established."

Author: Laura E. Beardsley   
Title: The Philadelphia Citizen's Almanac
Publisher: Turner Publishing Company
Date: Copyright 2010 by Turner Publishing Company
Pages: 294In today's excerpt - for American blacks in the decades following the American Revolution, even in the northern states, life was so oppressive that leaders from among them determined to emigrate and establish colonies in foreign countries. One of the first places they considered was Canada. Ultimately, a colony was established in Africa and 13,000 emigrated there:

"In the early decades of the nineteenth century, the role of free African- Americans in the life of the country was an issue that engaged whites and blacks alike. Concerned that free men of color could never achieve equality in the United States, a young free black man named Hezekiel Grice of Baltimore wrote to a number of prominent black leaders proposing a convention where mass emigration to Canada would be discussed. On September 15, 1830, a
ten-day National Negro Convention began in Philadelphia at Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Forty black men from nine states attended, including Mother Bethel Bishop Richard Allen.

"Opposition to the African colonization effort was a primary impetus for the call for a National Negro Convention. The American Colonization Society was formed in 1816 to implement a plan to establish a colony for free blacks in Africa. Dominated by slaveholders, the Colonization Society also included some African-Americans and abolitionists. Ultimately, that group sent 13,000 blacks to establish Liberia [on the west coast of Africa] in 1821. In contrast, the result of the National Negro Convention was a new association, the American Society of Free People of Colour, dedicated to improving the condition of blacks in North America, by purchasing land and by encouraging free blacks to emigrate to a new settlement in Canada. Members of the American Society of Free People of Colour argued that civic freedoms were already available in Canada. Further, its customs, language, climate, and soil were similar to those in America, and land could be purchased cheaply.

"Richard Allen was elected president of the society, calling on free men 'to aid each other by all honorable means, and to plant and support one in that country.' Allen also appealed to 'our colored brethren, and to all philanthropists here and elsewhere, to assist in this benevolent and important work.' Conventions similar to the first national meeting in Philadelphia in 1830 were held through the 1840s in New York and other states, but the movement eventually faded. Although many African-Americans immigrated to Canada, particularly after the Fugitive Slave Act was enacted in 1857, a specific colony in Canada was never established."

Author: Laura E. Beardsley   
Title: The Philadelphia Citizen's Almanac
Publisher: Turner Publishing Company
Date: Copyright 2010 by Turner Publishing Company
Pages: 294